How to Make Your Own Cheerleading Warmups

Cheerleaders have high-impact, high-energy performances that require limber bodies. When a cheerleader feels sluggish and stiff, it shows in the performance. It may even lead to some injuries. Designing your own warmups allows you to tailor the routine to the skills of your cheerleaders. It ensures you get the most benefit without wearing down the participants too much before a performance.

Instructions

    • 1

      Test the leg and midsection flexibility of your cheerleaders by asking them to do an assortment of stretches. Have them sit and extend their legs fully while trying to touch their toes. Ask them to practice doing the splits as well or to the best of their abilities.

    • 2

      Ask the cheerleaders to time themselves in an endurance run on a track. Watch from the sidelines to verify the results. This tells you how much endurance your cheerleaders have, so you better understand how long you can make your warm ups before you push the cheerleaders past their comfort points.

    • 3

      Ask the cheerleaders to recite some of their shortest and favorite cheers. Incorporate these simple, familiar cheers into your warmups. The rhythmic cheers set a pace for the warmups and help the cheerleaders clear their voices for a performance.

    • 4

      Design a warmup schedule that starts with light stretches set to the beat of the cheer. For example, have the participants crouch down at first and jump up on every third syllable in the cheer.

    • 5

      Organize a short sprint after the stretching that requires the participants to run a distance suitable for their endurance levels. It’s only a warmup, so make the run short. For example, make them run one-third the length the weakest runner can handle.

    • 6

      Incorporate a strength-training warmup into the routine. Getting the arm muscles warmed up will make it easier for the cheerleaders to lift and throw each other.